Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
What a unique time in the prison last night – our most-seasoned volunteer preached at the first service, and a new volunteer delivered his first-ever message at the 2nd service. In both cases, the men were fed the Word of God, as they continually offer prayers of thanksgiving for volunteers faithfully showing up in Christ’s love each week to bring them the Word.
Our prayer time began with David’s prayer in Psalm 86:
Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
answer me, for I need your help.
Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
You are my God.
Be merciful, O Lord,
for I am calling on you constantly.
Give me happiness, O Lord,
for my life depends on you.
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever trouble strikes,
and you will answer me. (Psalm 86:1-7)
Andy L delivered a message on hope, emphasizing to men in the 1st service how we can’t live without it, and how critical is our choice where we place our hope. We must continue every day to open doors of our lives and our very being to the Lord. We must take hold of the opportunity to live out Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Matt did an excellent job in 2nd service illustrating the trap of sin we so often fall into via the devil’s schemes he’s been perfecting since the beginning. The men were captivated as Matt shared his personal story of struggles with alcohol and drugs, but more importantly how he overcame these addictions through the power of Christ and reliance on God’s Word. He concluded with how any of us can overcome the deepest sin by bringing it into the light, choosing to repent, and trusting God’s power to overcome.
It’s our overall prayer every week that all of these men can be overcomers, especially when released from prison and faced with choices that can easily lead right back to incarceration. Thank you all for continually lifting up these men, their hope, and their future. The body of Christ functions best when we all do the parts He calls us to, and we appreciate you fulfilling such a critical support role each week. God bless you for your faithfulness!
Grace and Peace,
Rick
Inmate Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm service):
- Al– I’m on meds that make my heart race and can’t sleep, waiting for Doctor appointment to get it straightened out. Also pray for my wife to be safe and OK by herself for the next year and a half.
- Dan– for my daughter Riley on the streets, her boyfriend was murdered last year, and she needs guidance and protection to take the right steps. Also thanks for the volunteers bringing us the Word.
- Demonta– pray for mercy on our court cases.
- John– for family and kids, for the letter I wrote to the judge asking for the needed surgery on my eye so I don’t lose my vision. And pray for all those who pray for us.
- Brandt– my court date is coming up this week, may the light of Christ shine on us and in our cases, especially since I have a crooked lawyer.
- Steven– all glory, honor, and praise to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, for the volunteer disciples, for each man in here to be changed, and for my bother from the block who came tonight with questions about what he’s reading in the Bible and doesn’t understand.
- Nathan– forgiveness.
- Phil T– for my son Kyle jumping much too quickly and deeply into relationships, that he would wait upon the Lord at least for big decisions. And thanks for the prayers for my back pain which has improved greatly.
- Junior– my court date, family, wars across the world.
Inmate/volunteer Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm service)
- Craig– praise the Lord for our volunteers, prayers for my wife Kay and my children Brianna and Brielle, and my wife’s prayer that soon we can be a family again. Also that we can all be not just hearers but doers of the Word.
- Martin– my family, thanks for volunteers, my successful recovery, good outcome of my case.
- Shaun– fellow inmates, that God would wrap us up in His strong arms and give us what we need physically, mentally, and emotionally. Prayers for my daughter and 2 very active grandsons.
- Tyreek– guidance and wisdom.
- Harry– my mom has Alzheimer’s, and for my addictions.
- Clarence– pray for volunteers, the men back on the block, family, court date on the 15th to actually happen and not get pushed back again and again, for light to be shed on my situation, and God’s blessing on me one day at a time.
- Alan– thankful for my Mom to see another birthday, for my little brother Ashmir’s case to go well, and I’m going home Friday- prayers to stay in the Word and not come back here.
- Ed– Safety for whoever is coming to pick me up tomorrow (in the snow storm) – it’s a 3 hour drive.
Prayers from Onesimus Ministries
- God’s continued blessings of strength, endurance, compassion, and wisdom upon our wonderful servant chaplains Rhonda and Heinrich, as God’s hands and feet in Chester County Prison. Bless them to be a blessing to many residents, staff, and family members connected to the prison.
- God’s healing and recovery for inmates, staff, and family members suffering with illness or disease. We specifically lift up Pastor Jack Crans for healing from his cancer.
- The peace of Christ within the prison population and among the staff, and all inmate/staff interactions each day.
- For aftercare ministries across Chester County, and increased adoption of these programs by area churches, as they help ex-offenders take steps toward healthy reintegration to society as God-fearing Christians. May these ministries be effective, with much growth among both clients and volunteers, and may God multiply their resources to get the job done.
If you’d like to find out more about mentoring and discipling a man or woman coming out of prison, drop us a note at outreach@onesimusministries.org.
These weekly prayer requests are also posted on our website – https://onesimusministries.org/category/weekly-prayer-requests/
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